31st July 2018
Louis Foster battles hard for double podium at Snetterton For Immediate Release: 30 July 2018
Rising star Louis Foster battled hard on track to pick up two podium finishes as the 2018 Ginetta Junior Championship season burst back into life at Snetterton.
The 14-year-old Lord Wandsworth College student from Odiham made the trip to Norfolk keen to build on an impressive start to his debut campaign, with an overall victory at Donington Park the highlight of a season that has seen him regularly running at the sharp end of the grid.
Qualifying saw Louis leading the way at the wheel of his Elite Motorsport-run car, with a best time of 2min 45.128secs allowing him to beat team-mate Adam Smalley to pole position.
A solid start when the lights went out allowed Louis to maintain his advantage when the opening race got underway, heading the opening two laps despite pressure from behind from Luke Browning and Smalley.
Briefly slipping back into P3, Louis quickly worked his way back into the lead of the race and looked well set to fight for his second overall victory of the year until the penultimate lap of the race, when contact on the run from Oggies to Williams saw him tipped into a spin.
Although able to resume, sixth place overall and third best of the rookie drivers was little reward for his performance on track.
Having qualified sixth on the grid for race two, Louis found himself embroiled in a race long battle for the final position on the podium and a strong drive saw him rewarded with third place overall and first spot amongst the rookies to strengthen his championship position.
Unfortunately, Louis was hit with two penalties after the race for contact in the pack, which resulted in a ten-place grid penalty for the final race of the weekend.
Starting from 13th spot as a result, and in treacherous wet conditions after the arrival of heavy rain at the circuit, Louis produced a fine recovery drive as he fought his way through to third place to take top rookie honours for the second time in the weekend.
It means Louis ends the weekend sitting in a clear third in the championship standings and within 20 points of second place.
“I’m pleased with the way the weekend ended in race three, but it was a bit of a mixed bag,” he said. “The first race was tough to take because I was comfortably leading and closing in on my second win of the season until the incident with Adam.
“I’d made a small mistake but it didn’t leave enough room for him to make a move and unfortunately it ended in contact and a spin. I can see why he tried and it’s a shame that it cost us a win, but it’s something that we just have to put behind us.
“Race two was one of those races where there was just contact all over the place and sadly the stewards decided I was to blame for some of it. I don’t agree with the penalties that were given to me, but I have to respect their decision, and it only left me more determined to try and recover with a good result in race three.
“To come from 13th on the grid to finish on the podium was great and we come away from Snetterton with some decent points on the board, but also knowing that it could have been better.
“Next time out we head to Rockingham which is where I made my debut last year, and hopefully I can enjoy a bit more luck and pick up some strong finishes there.”